Obituaries – September 7

EditorSeptember 10, 2017Comments Off on Obituaries – September 7

Mark Joel Howarth, Sr. passed away Sunday evening, August 27, 2017, at Slidell Memorial Hospital, at the age of 61. He was born in Tampa, FL, but lived most of his life in St. Tammany Parish. Mark loved his cats and spending time with friends and family. Father of Mark Joel Howarth, Jr. Brother of Merrill Wayne Howarth. Mark is preceded in death by his parents George E. and Gloria Lylerly Merrill Howarth. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

A native of Woodville, Miss., she was the fifth of nine children. Growing up on a farm in a big family taught her how to pinch a penny and do a lot with what she had. She graduated from Mississippi Southern College and then taught elementary school for several years.

She married Joe Massey in 1952 and had with him the most love-filled life imaginable. They were inseparable during their 60 years of marriage. She and Joe spent most of their adult lives living in the southern parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, primarily in the New Orleans and Mandeville areas.

She was a phenomenal cook, an excellent seamstress, and quite the decorator. She absolutely loved any form of handiwork that involved a needle and thread – cross-stitch, needlepoint, etc -but hand quilting was her favorite. Her homes were always decorated with her beautiful handiwork. Not only did she make beautiful clothing, but also gorgeous quilts, and even taught one of her sitters to hand-quilt during her later years.

Huldah loved to laugh and have a good time until the very end of her life. Even at 90, her never-ending quick one-line comments and responses were hysterical. She was a great hostess and always made folks feel very comfortable around her – probably because she was always so happy and kind. It’s been often said by those who knew her that “there wasn’t a mean bone in her body.”

She was blessed with excellent sitters after moving to Texas. Sincere, heartfelt thanks to Frances Tilley, Vickey Johnson, Sandra Horne, and Kathy Loeffler for all the tender loving care they provided her over the last ten years. Her at-home hospice care during her last seven weeks was wonderful, thanks to Alvie Vickers, RN.

She is survived by her daughter Jo Dobbs and husband Gary of Bullard, TX; her son Mark Massey and wife Beth of Whitehouse, TX; and her son Gary Massey and wife Cindy, of Pensacola, FL.

Grandchildren include Wayne Massey of Pensacola, FL; Jodi Massey Johanson and husband Brandon, of Port St. Joe, FL; Amanda Moyer and husband Scott of Houston, TX; April Massey of Dallas; and Lara Massey of Dallas; and great-grandchildren include Kylie and Tye Moyer of Houston, TX and Charlie Kate Johanson of Port St. Joe, FL.

Funeral services will be held for Huldah Massey on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at the Woodville Baptist Church in Woodville, Mississippi at 11 a.m., the same church in which she and the love of her life, the late Joe Massey, were married 65 years ago.

Memorials can be made to The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701; to the Tyler Sunrise Rotary Foundation (Sunrise Paw Park), PO Box 8383, Tyler, TX 75711; or to the Woodville Baptist Church, 234 Natchez St., Woodville, MS 39669.